Who Can Become an Au Pair in the USA?
The eligibility requirements, in full
To join the J-1 Au Pair Program through GreatAuPair USA, au pairs must be between the ages of 18 and 26 years old, and must be under 27 when they enter the United States. You also need to be a non-US citizen living in a country GreatAuPair services, have at least 600 hours of childcare experience with non-family members, speak English proficiently, have no criminal background, have completed secondary school, hold a valid driver's license, be in good health and a non-smoker, and be willing to come to the US for one year. If you plan to care for children under two, you need 600 hours of experience with that age group. Every au pair also completes the 32+ hour GreatAuPair Training Academy before arrival.
The eligibility requirements, in full
To join the J-1 Au Pair Program through GreatAuPair USA, you must be between 18 and 26 years old, and under 27 when you enter the United States. Beyond age, you need to:
- Be a non-US citizen living in a country GreatAuPair services
- Have at least 600 hours of childcare experience with non-family members
- Speak English proficiently
- Have no criminal background
- Have completed secondary school
- Hold a valid driver's license
- Be in good health and a non-smoker
- Be willing to come to the United States for one year
If you want to care for infants
Caring for children under two carries an additional requirement: 600 hours of experience with that specific age group. General childcare hours do not substitute. If infant care is where your experience already sits, say so clearly in your application — families seeking infant-qualified au pairs actively look for it.
Training before you arrive
Every au pair completes the 32+ hour GreatAuPair Training Academy before arrival. This is not a formality to click through. It covers child development, safety, and what daily life in an American household actually involves, and au pairs who take it seriously arrive far better prepared for the first week.
The requirement that is not on the list
Everything above is checkable. The thing that separates au pairs who thrive from those who struggle is not on any checklist: genuine interest in cultural exchange. You are going to live inside someone else's family for a year, in their country, on their schedule. Applicants who want that — not just a way to get to the United States — are the ones who look back on the year as the thing that changed them.
If you do not meet a requirement yet
Several of these are things you can work toward rather than fixed barriers. Childcare hours accumulate — documented, non-family hours count, so keep a record as you go. A driver's license can be obtained. English improves with deliberate practice. If you are 18 and short on hours, you have several years of eligibility ahead of you to build them.
Read the transcript
So you're curious about becoming a J-1 au pair in the USA — let's talk about who can apply. The J-1 Au Pair Program is designed for young adults from other countries who want to live with an American host family, care for their children, and experience life in the United States. Generally, candidates need to be within a specific age range, have experience caring for children, speak English well enough to communicate in a home setting, pass background checks, and meet health requirements. You also need to be genuinely excited about cultural exchange — because that's truly at the heart of this program. If that sounds like you, GreatAuPair USA can walk you through every eligibility requirement step by step. Head to greataupairusa.com to find out if you qualify and start your journey toward an incredible American adventure.
